More and more students choosing Czech Republic for uni

The beautiful, landlocked country of the Czech Republic is increasingly attracting foreign students to its higher education institutions, according to a new report.

The Czech Education Ministry last week announced the total number of foreign students had increased between 2016 and 2017 to reach 43,831, reported local newspaper the Prague Monitor.

Foreigners represented some 15 percent of the country’s 299,054 university students last year.

Why are people choosing to study there?

Well, one reason is affordability. Average living costs for students are around just US$350 to US$750 per month, including accommodation, food, transport and cultural activities.

If students choose to study the Czech language, then higher education at public and state institutions becomes tuition-free. According to the Prague Monitor, only around one-third of current international students are paying fees for their education.

Conveniently located in the middle of Europe, the country’s geography also allows students to travel throughout the continent and is the sixth safest nation in the world according to the Global Peace Index 2017.

Most importantly, there are quality schools on offer too. The Czech Republic has some 70 higher education institutions and 1,000 degree programmes in English on offer.

Historic buildings at the campus of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Source: Triff/Shutterstock

The Charles University in Prague is Central Europe’s oldest university and is ranked in Times Higher Education’s top 500 universities globally.

The Czech Technical University in Prague specialises in engineering and related sciences, while Masaryk University teaches in both English and German and has strong connections with institutions across Europe.

What’s more, non-European Union students are more able to get a job there if they graduate from a Czech university, no longer requiring a permit.

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